American stand-up comedian and actress Monique Angela Hicks, popularly known as Mo’Nique recently made an appearance on Club Shay Shay. In this online podcast show, she shared some surprising revelations. During her conversation with the former NFL Hall of Famer, she echoed Katt Williams’ earlier claims about the presence of gatekeepers in the entertainment industry.
Mo’Nique recounted an incident where Indimo Entertainment conveyed to her that Kevin Hart‘s manager, Dave Becky, had informed them that Kevin did not want to have any relationship with her, so there wasn’t going to be any partnership between them, not now nor in the future. This revelation came as a shock to Mo’Nique, particularly because just weeks prior, Kevin Hart had personally assured her that they would work in partnership.
This was after she had been on his podcast show and had a conversation about the issues she had with Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey. Kevin had been blunt with her, stating that he had no personal relationship with Oprah, but he would personally reach out to Tyler on her behalf, to which she expressed her gratitude. A week later, Kevin called her and told her that Tyler said he didn’t want to revisit that issue. He gave Mo’Nique his word and assured her that they could work on projects together, so she should just let go of the Tyler Perry issue.
In response to the news from Indimo, Mo’Nique reached out to Kevin Hart to verify the claims. This was because she did not go asking for any partnerships. It was Kevin himself who promised her that he was going to co-produce with her. She was grateful because she was already in a conversation with Indimo where she was trying to get a talk show back. Kevin swiftly denied it, saying that it was a miscommunication, and assured her that he would be in touch soon. However, two years have passed, and Monique has yet to receive any communication from Kevin.
Despite this, Mo’Nique did express gratitude for Kevin Hart’s financial support during challenging times. She made a point to highlight that she promptly repaid the support with interest as soon as she regained her financial stability. The perplexing aspect for Mo’Nique was Kevin’s sudden silence, especially given the personal connection he had expressed.
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Mo’Nique’s revelation sheds light on the difficulties within the entertainment industry, often attributed to what are termed gatekeepers. She strongly believes that influential figures like Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, and Steve Harvey should take an active role in supporting their fellow black individuals instead of contributing to the challenges they face, including blackballing and blacklisting.
Mo’Nique emphasises that it’s high time for successful figures in the industry to extend a helping hand and uplift others within the black community. She points out the lasting impact of a rumor started by Tyler Perry, labelling her as difficult to work with. This unfounded rumor has reportedly cost her millions of dollars, despite having evidence in the form of a recorded phone call from Tyler Perry proving that he fabricated those falsehoods about her. The incident raises questions about the responsibility of influential figures, who have the power to shape opinions and impact the lives of others, to create a more supportive and equitable industry for all.